Redistribution

The key feature of the redistribution was the transfer of a Mining and Pastoral Region electorate to the South West Region. Basically, Burrup and Ningaloo have been amalgamated as North West Coastal, consequent changes being Eyre expanded and re-named Murchison-Eyre, and Pilbara becoming Central Kimberley-Pilbara. The new seat in the South West is Capel.

Assessment

Labor's strongest Region and the one where it is usually most likely to pick up three seats. In 2001, the final seat was lost to the Greens, but with One Nation a greatly diminished political force, Labor has a chance of returning to three seats. While the Greens and One Nation picked up seats in 2001, at the three previous elections the region split 3 Labor and 2 Liberal.

Retiring MPs

Kevin Leahy only filled a short term vacancy and will not be contesting the 2005 election. He is a former member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Northern Rivers.

(*) MP Changes

John Fisher was elected as a One Nation MP, but resigned from the party in the on-going legal battle for control of the party. Kevn Leahy filled the vacancy that was always going to be created when Tom Stephens resigned to contest Central Kimberley-Pilbara. The vacancy just occurred earlier than expected when the death of the Labor candidate saw Stephens nominate for the Federal seat of Kalgoorlie.

2001 Result

Party

Votes

% Vote

Swing

Quotas

SeatsWon

SeatsChange

Labor Party

20,596

39.5

-8.5

2.37

2

-1

Liberal Party

13,908

26.7

-9.0

1.60

1

-1

One Nation

7,247

13.9

+13.9

0.83

1

+1

Nevill (Ind)

4,878

9.4

+9.4

0.56

..

..

Greens (WA)

2,305

4.4

+4.4

0.27

1

+1

National Party

1,361

2.6

-7.1

0.16

..

..

Australian Democrats

834

1.6

-3.4

0.10

..

..

Helm (Ind)

813

1.6

+1.6

0.09

..

..

Others

202

0.4

-1.2

0.02

..

..

Formal

52,144

97.6

+0.3

5

Informal

1,298

2.4

-0.3

Total Votes

53,442

79.9

+1.3

Roll

66,902

Quota

8,691

Past Results

1989

1993

1996

2001

Party

% Vote

MLAs

% Vote

MLAs

% Vote

MLAs

% Vote

MLAs

Labor Party

53.7

3

54.5

3

48.0

3

39.5

2

Liberal Party

33.6

2

36.9

2

35.7

2

26.7

1

National Party

3.6

..

..

..

9.7

..

2.6

..

Australian Democrats

2.7

..

2.6

..

5.0

..

1.6

..

Greypower

3.2

..

0.9

..

..

..

..

..

Greens (WA)

..

..

5.0

..

..

..

4.4

1

One Nation

..

..

..

..

..

..

13.9

1

Others

3.2

..

..

1.6

..

11.3

..

Informal

2.6

2.5

2.7

2.4

Turnout

80.9

85.9

78.6

79.9

Quota

8,332

9,097

8,707

8,691

Note: In 2001, two ex-Labor MLCs stood as Independents. Mark Nevill attracted 9.4% of the vote, and Tom Helm 1.6%.